Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin turning things around with new morning routine

The Boston Red Sox needed more from Caleb Durbin, and the infielder has begun to provide it with a new morning routine. After a rough start put his role at third base in question, Durbin has started to give the Red Sox lineup a steadier, more productive version of his bat.

Durbin opened the season hitting .168 with a .492 OPS over his first 45 games, numbers that cost him everyday time at third. Rather than wait for the swing to correct itself, he changed how his home days begin.

The adjustment centers on early work in Waltham with Gradum GSwing founder Lorenzo Garmendia. The Red Sox third baseman spends about an hour on drills before making the commute to Fenway Park, adding another layer of preparation before joining the Red Sox.

According to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey, the extra work has translated quickly after Durbin committed to the routine before home games.

“The results have been almost immediate. Over the last six games, Durbin has gone 9-for-24 (.375) with five doubles and a triple.”

The surge has come with more than improved box-score production. Durbin has also cut his groundball rate from roughly 60 percent to 40 percent, showing that the swing work has changed the way he is making contact.

That is relevant for Boston under interim manager Chad Tracy. Durbin’s recent run included a strong performance Wednesday in an 8-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles, giving the lineup needed length during a difficult stretch.

Carlos Narvaez helped connect the young infielder with Garmendia, giving him another set of eyes as he worked through the slump. The outside instruction helped address hand placement, posture, and swing-path issues that had been leading to weaker contact.

For the Red Sox, Durbin’s turnaround carries larger meaning. He arrived as a major piece in the offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers that sent Kyle Harrison away. If the routine continues to work, Durbin can reclaim a larger role and quiet early-season concern.

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